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Dr. Akshay Yadhati, a surgeon with Austin Regional Clinic, performed two different high-tech spine surgeries this year that were both Austin-area firsts, according to a spokesperson for the medical group. Yadhati spoke to Community Impact about the procedures and what they mean for spine care in Central Texas.

The overview: Yadhati performed a robotic navigated spinal interbody fusion on an adult patient and an endoscopic spine surgery. Both techniques are significant steps forward in spinal care, he said, because they improve the safety and accuracy of the surgeries and minimize invasiveness and recovery time.

Why it matters: “If I were dealing with [these problems], these are the techniques I would want done on my back,” Yadhati said. “That’s the main theme that I try to anchor a lot of my decisions in. If I’m the patient, or my mom, dad, brother or wife is the patient, how do I want them to be going through a surgery?”

Some residents living in downtown Austin and near West Campus may experience a temporary power outage July 12 starting at 11 p.m. The planned outage will last for six hours.

What’s happening: Austin Energy crews will be upgrading electric equipment downtown. This work is part of its Repowering Downtown initiative to replace old infrastructure and build up power capacity, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Next steps: Ways to prepare for the planned power outage include:

• Keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible
• Unplugging sensitive electronics, such as televisions and computers
• Keeping homes at a temperature between 67 and 70 degrees before the outage to keep it cool as long as possible
• Use a battery-operated fan and layered sheets to stay cool during the outage

Over the past decade, neonatal intensive care unit expansions across Central Texas have widened access to specialized care for families in Northwest Austin and Williamson County. As the region continues to grow, hospitals and nonprofits are expanding services for parents navigating a NICU stay.

By the numbers: NICU admissions have risen nationwide, and Texas is no exception. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9.7% of infants in Texas were admitted to a NICU in 2023, part of a larger upward trend between 2016 to 2023.

Of the state’s 24 Level IV NICUs—the highest level of neonatal care—Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and St. David’s Medical Center are the only two such facilities located in the Austin area.

While local birth rates have surged, nonprofits supporting NICU families have noticed the growth as well. According to Kristin Coulter, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Central Texas, the organization has had a waitlist for over six years.

Preparations for the first major addition to the recently annexed Dog's Head are underway, while local leaders ready to adopt a long-term public financing plan for upgrades across the more than 4-square-mile East Austin mega-site.

The details: In May, Austin City Council annexed the 2,614-acre Dog's Head and entered a 45-year development agreement for the area's buildout. The city and Travis County are now each considering a tax financing plan for the extensive public infrastructure needed to support future additions there, while some officials and residents are pressing for environmental protections and other benefits ahead of decades of anticipated construction.

A 300-acre portion of the Dog's Head is currently being cleared for "Project Toaster," an advanced manufacturing site from an unidentified Fortune 100 company. The company is deciding between the Dog's Head and a location in another state. Initial grading activity is already taking place around the Project Toaster property, and Austin could soon approve the vacations of two public roadways in its limits.